Rhetoric (Dover Thrift Editions) [Paperback]

Aristotle (Author), W. Rhys Roberts (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Dover Thrift Editions | Publication Date: September 29, 2004

Focusing on the use of language as both a vehicle and a tool to shape persuasive argument, Aristotle delineates with remarkable insight both practical and aesthetic elements and their proper combination in effective presentation, oral or written. He also emphasizes the effective use of language in achieving precision and clarity of thought.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover Thrift Eds edition (September 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486437930
• ISBN-13: 978-0486437934
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Words & Language > Rhetoric
  • #63 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Greek & Roman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rhetoric, December 14, 2010

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Kim - See all my reviews

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This review is from: RHETORIC (UPDATED w/LINKED TOC) (Kindle Edition)

Aristotle's Rhetoric is a wonderful read, and one which is still highly relevant today. It should be noted that, despite the blurbs on the product page, the Kindle edition is not the Kennedy translation. The Kennedy translation is really worth the extra money for the print edition if you have a serious interest in the subject, but the Kindle edition is a decent (and cheap!) introduction to the text, although it lacks annotations, and any sort of introductions.

5.0 out of 5 stars The most influential book of all time, January 18, 2012

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John Daulton "Writer" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rhetoric (Hardcover)

Unless you are religious and have a favorite tome for that sort of thing, this is the most important book you will ever read. Such a spectacular study of humanity, so accurate despite so many centuries and cultures between. The wisdom of so many holy books without the need for spectacle, guilt, hyperbole, or esoteric didacticism. It cuts to the chase and beautifully illustrates practically everything that's gone wrong with modern politics, everywhere. It's nice, in a way, to see that people haven't changed a whit since Aristotle's time, but it's depressing to see that people haven't changed a whit since Aristotle's time either. It's not an easy read; it's hard to grapple with the ideas; and you have to want to improve yourself to bother with it. But worth it, if for no other reason this book will show you how to spot the B.S. pretty much everyone is dishing out in this hyper spun world of ours.

7 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Capacity of Persuasion, May 8, 2008

By 

Michael A Neulander "Political Philosophy" (VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: THE CATEGORIES [DIGITALLY ENHANCED] (Kindle Edition)

I read these works for a graduate seminar on Aristotle.
Definition of Rhetoric- capacity of persuasion. Plato is critical of the Rhetoric and the tragic poetry. Rhetoric is approach to political public speeches in the forum. Plato thought that they clouded the mind and thus created a part of his critique of democracy in general. Plato thinks Socrates was killed by rhetoric used by the Athenian democracy. Plato feared the danger of democracy. Poetry appeals to the base human emotions rhetoric, and poetry block rational truth according to Plato. Rhetoric is psychological force of language vs. logical force of language. Psychology leads people to believe things based on emotions. Speech must appeal to the masses in a democracy. Psychology is persuasion, logic is truth. Deduction and induction is arguing logically. Plato says rhetoric is not a technç, (craft) nor is poetry, because they are undisciplined and not uniform in design. Thus, appeal to psychology and emotion can never be done away with in a democracy, thus Plato abhors them and democracy. Plato calls it sophistry this psychological appeal and democracy requires this to exist, so the problem persists. Plato is clear and consistent in his abhorrence of sophistry and democracy.

Aristotle's Rhetoric and Poetics are an alternative to Plato. Aristotle's rhetoric tries to strike a middle position. Aristotle says rhetoric and poetry are a technç, the Rhetoric is a handbook. Aristotle says speaker needs to appeal to appropriate information for the particular setting. Much like a lawyer's argument, not just relying on facts, need to appeal to people's emotions. Aristotle does understand that rhetoric can be used in a harmful way.

Aristotle lays out three features in rhetoric:
1. Ethos= character of the speaker, also charisma, speaker earns the audience's trust, use of body language.
2. Pathos= condition of the hearer.
3. Logos= essential bearing on political persuasion, truth.

Thus, Plato's concern by definition excludes speech because it deals with emotion. These three conditions must be in play for a speech to be successful. The rhetoric contains a detailed analysis of the different human emotions and how to elicit them in a speech. Aristotle knows the speaker must be a good student of human nature to tap into human emotions.

Epistçmç is scientific knowledge. Phronçsis is the capacity of the soul for using education, experience and habit all this is in the ethics. This is the same in political world so politics is not an episteme no scientific reasoning. The things that come up in politics are not deduced scientifically. In politics, humans use deliberation between several possible outcomes unlike math where there is only one correct answer. Political speech is contentious because the nature of politics is contentious.

There are two circumstances in rhetoric.
1. Judicial rhetoric has to do with the past like in a court case.
2. Deliberative rhetoric has to do with the future, what decision should we make in political policies.

I recommend Aristotle's works to anyone interested in obtaining a classical education, and those interested in philosophy. Aristotle is one of the most important philosophers and the standard that all others must be judged by.